Tony Blair has won his third general election victory. But in Britain, the eyes of most political pundits are increasingly focused on Gordon Brown, his chancellor of the exchequer. The prime minister may be basking this weekend in the glory of a third successive general election victory - albeit one with a reduced parliamentary majority. But it is Mr Brown whom the political world now watches with ever more intensity.

Nothing is guaranteed in politics. But most UK political analysts regard it as pretty certain that, at some point in the next two or three years, Mr Brown will replace Mr Blair as Labour leader and prime minister.